Abstract: The in-line specimen trap operates in conjunction with a suction or irrigation line and a second line leading to a surgical site. The trap includes a specimen container, a cap coupled to the specimen container and an operator controlled, multi-modal valve disposed in or on the cap. The valve includes at least a bypass passage and a container input port and a container output port. The bypass passage limits flow exclusively between the first and second lines, that is, between the suction/irrigation line and the line leading to the surgical site. The position of an operator control interface determines the selection of the bypass mode or trap and collection mode. The method establishes, under operator control, a bypass channel between the first and second lines channels under operator control, the specimen fluid and debris from the second line through the specimen container to the first line, and, closes the specimen container after the channeling step.

Abstract: The in-line hand operated valve controls the flow of at least one, and preferably both, irrigation fluid and suction respectively to and from a surgical site via a delivery line. In one working embodiment, suction fluid is supplied to the valve via a first source line and suction is supplied to the valve via a second source line. The valve body defines, source ports in fluid communication with the source lines and a delivery port in fluid communication with the delivery line. The valve body includes at least one, and preferably two, collapsible internal fluid carrying channels in fluid communication with the respective source port and the delivery port. Each valve mechanism includes an operator control surface, a stem, and a compressor member acting on and closing and opening the collapsible segment of the fluid carrying channel or body. A biasing element (such as a spring or other resilient body) keeps the valve stem and the compressor element in either an open or a closed state.

Abstract: The solar tracking mechanism is utilized in connection with a solar energy collection system. The collection system includes a light reflective shell shaped to focus solar radiation on a radiation absorbing segment of a tube which carries a heat transfer fluid. The shell is pivotally mounted on a support frame. An actuator mounted between the support frame and the shell rotatably the shell. A solar sensor is mounted deep within a sighting tube which is fixed to the shell such that a line of sight through the sighting tube is at least parallel to the optical axis of the shell. The solar sensor generates a sensor signal which is used as a control input to an actuator control system. End limit switches generate a limit stop signals when the shell reaches maximum angular positions. The actuator control system generates fluid flows to the actuator based the solar sensor signal and the limit stop signals.

Abstract: The method of making a dry film decorative panel covered with paint or covered with metal or plastic sheet film designed to look like metal includes providing a substrate, at least one sheet of dry photoresist film, developer wash for the dry film and at least one art work stencil. Preferably, any line art work can be utilized as the art work stencil. The dry film is placed intermediate the art work and on the substrate thereby forming a layered composite. The layered composite is exposed to UV light to polymerize the exposed areas. The art work is thereafter removed. Non-UV exposed dry film layer portions are washed away utilizing developer wash. The resulting UV exposed and polymerized dry film portions create relies on the substrate. Multiple layer relies are created by repeating the aforementioned steps. The relief and supporting substrate is painted to form a decorative panel or is covered with metal or metal-like plastic sheet foil.

Abstract: A circuit for sensing a magnetic field has at least one saturable coil (L1). The circuit includes switches (S1, S2) controlled by a comparator (12) to drive the coil (L1) to saturation by alternating polarities of current. In the absence of an external magnetic field the currents are balanced. An applied external magnetic field causes an unbalance in the coil (L1) in reaching saturation. An unbalance current is applied through a sensing resistor (R2) to an integrator (20) to develop an output voltage (Vo) as a measure of the applied magnetic field. The switches (S1, S2) are implemented by transistor switches. Dual (FIG. 1) and single (FIG. 2) supply rail circuits are disclosed. The circuit finds particular application in torque transducers using magnetoelastic elements.

Abstract: The filter device captures embolic material in a blood vessel and is placed in the blood vessel via a guide wire. The guide wire has a proximal end, a distal end and a stop near its distal end. The filter device includes an expandable frame of frame struts having a closed, radially compact form and an open, radially expanded form. The frame, in the radially expanded form, has frame struts forming a pair of facing frustoconical frame structures. Filter material is attached to one of the pair of frustoconical frame structures. In one embodiment, the filter material is a perforated membrane. The guide wire extends through the expandable frame and the expandable frame is freely movable over the guide wire (likewise, the guide wire is freely movable within the frame), both rotatably and longitudinally, except distally beyond the stop near the distal end of the guide wire.

Abstract: The programmable device connects an initiating telecommunications device with a destination telecommunications device through one of a plurality of telecommunications carriers based upon information stored in a database in the programmable apparatus. The programmable apparatus includes input and output devices, a processor, a memory and various databases. The system accesses and obtains information from the database and establishes a telecommunications link between the initiating telecommunications device and the destination telecommunications devices via one of a preferred low cost call carrier or a least expensive low cost call carrier. The database includes access telephone numbers, clearance code data (i.e., PIN numbers), cost of call rate data for specific destinations, specific days of the week, date and time of day for a plurality of telecommunications carriers.

Abstract: The mirrored eye drop target is used in connection with an eye drop container. The drop or dropper target includes an elongated planar substrate having a mirrored or reflective first end segment and an adhering second end segment. In a preferred embodiment, the adhesive on the second end segment is initially covered by a removable substrate or cover. After removal of the substrate (which exposes the adhesive), the planar substrate is attached to the body of the eye drop container. The mirrored or reflective first end segment is substantially vertically aligned with the eye drop spout end such that when the composite structure (the planar substrate and eye drop container) is substantially horizontally disposed, eye drops ejected from the spout end substantially fall in a single vertical line established by the visual target or on the mirrored or reflective surface, the spout end and the user's eye.

Abstract: The surgical instrument for stapling and cutting a blood vessel or other organic structure utilizes surgical staple clips. The surgical instrument includes an elongated tube or rod having a longitudinally movable rod disposed therein. A handle is mounted on the proximal end of the tube. The handle has a movable member which causes the movable rod to longitudinally shift positions in the tube. In one version, a pair of surgical staple clip-carrying jaw sets are pivotally mounted on a common lateral axis located at the distal end of the elongated tube. A scissor jaw set may also be included in the system. When the rod longitudinally moves with respect to the elongated tube or rod, the clip jaw sets clip the surgical staple clips onto the blood vessel or other organic structure. The handle for the surgical instrument includes a movable member coupled to a movable rod and a stationary grip member mounted to the elongated tube, within which moves the longitudinally movable rod.

Abstract: The drawing horse and multi-task work station is adapted to support a planar board for use by a user. The station includes a generally rectangular, three dimensional central frame structure having a width small enough to be straddled by the user. Planar, rectangular end frame structures are mounted on either end of the central frame structure. The end frame structures include upwardly extending frame portions with a pair of extending end posts thereat. In one embodiment, the work station is provided with a removable drafting board system having pivotal end support elements, supporting the drafting board thereon, mounted to left and right side cross support beams. The cross support beams are removably mounted on the end posts of the end frame structures with end post caps. The caps are at either end of the cross support beams. In another embodiment, the station includes a tray.

Abstract: The filter device captures embolic material in a blood vessel and is placed in the blood vessel via a guide wire. The guide wire has a proximal end, a distal end and a stop near its distal end. The filter device includes an expandable frame of frame struts having a closed, radially compact form and an open, radially expanded form. The frame, in the radially expanded form, has frame struts forming a pair of facing frustoconical frame structures. Filter material is attached to one of the pair of frustoconical frame structures. In one embodiment, the filter material is a perforated membrane. The guide wire extends through the expandable frame and the expandable frame is freely movable over the guide wire (likewise, the guide wire is freely movable within the frame), both rotatably and longitudinally, except distally beyond the stop near the distal end of the guide wire.

Abstract: The vascular protection and embolic material retrieval device is used in connection with a guidewire and a catheter sheath during catheter based procedures. The device includes a discontinuous loop of memory sheath material having an open loop shape when the loop is not radially restrained in the catheter sheath. When the loop is disposed beyond the distal end of the catheter sheath, the loop is deployed and forms a discontinuous loop due to the memory characteristic of the loop material. The device includes a lead line having a proximal end attached to the guidewire and a distal end attached to the discontinuous loop. A substantially conical filter adapted to capture embolic material has an open conical end attached to the discontinuous loop and a conical end point attached to the guidewire. When the loop is disposed outboard of the catheter sheath, the filter unfurls forming a conical filter trap for embolic material.

Abstract: The locking nut and bolt system utilizes a bolt with thread having a plurality of notches generally longitudinally spaced in a predetermined pattern. Each notch has a lock face and an opposing slope. The locking unit carries one or more tines. The tine has a distal tine end adapted to latch onto the lock face of the notch on the bolt and, when the distal tine end is not disposed in one or more notches, the tine end moves on the bolt thread crest. When the distal tine end is in the notch or notches, the lock face of the notch prevents counter-rotational movement of the bolt with respect to the nut when the distal tine end abuts the lock face. The locking unit supports the tine and may be cylindrical, rectangular or on a perpendicular support face normal to a radial plane through the axial centerline of the nut thread. The locking unit may be on a nut insert or may be carried on the leg of a U, J or S-shaped clip. The locking unit may be recessed as a blind hole.

Abstract: A security assembly for a golf bag which is structured to restrict unauthorized access to the interior of the golf bag and the clubs therein as well as prevent or restrict unauthorized removal of the golf bag from an intended, supported position such as on a golf cart or like location. A plurality of holders, preferably having a substantially closed or ring like configuration, are fixedly or removably mounted,on the golf bag in spaced but generally adjacent relation to the open end thereof, wherein the plurality of holders pass at least partially through correspondingly disposed openings formed in a hood, which in turn is mounted in overlying, covering relation to the open end of the golf bag. An elongated retainer member passes through or is otherwise connected to the plurality of holders so as to be disposed in overlying, retaining relation to the hood thereby preventing its unauthorized removal.

Abstract: The self securing suture includes a suture having at least one terminal end and a toggle, formed of suture material, at the suture's terminal end. In one embodiment, the suture toggle is a bar. In another embodiment the suture is a wire and the toggle is a wire element toggle. The wire element toggle is a double strand segment or an open loop segment. The suture delivery system includes a slotted needle configured such that a protruding tab or leg of the toggle bar fits within slot of the needle. For wire sutures, the open loop wire element toggle fits within the slotted needle. In another embodiment, a depending wire tip, from the wire element toggle, fits within the slot in the needle.